The Emporia State volleyball team started slow in each set but finished strong sweeping #24 Missouri Western 25-23, 25-20, 25-21 in each team’s conference opener and ESU’s Opening Day at White Auditorium in Emporia Friday night. Missouri Western took the lead through six points in each set, but the Lady Hornets battled back, limiting the Griffons to just two runs of three points or more during the rest of the match. ESU out hit the visitors .233 to .122 in the match led by Camilla Ossola. The Italian senior sizzled with a match-high 13 kills with just two errors to lead the offense while Nyia Anderson added 10 kills. Ossola said she was so ‘in the zone’ that she didn’t realize the kind of night she was having.
The ESU defense frustrated Western into 22 attack errors and allowed just one service ace. Head coach Ken Murczek credited his team’s great reception for getting the team back into each set.
Boglarka Rady led the way defensively with 21 digs while Mia Frisbie had five total blocks. Rady said the team has to move on for Saturday.
ESU (10-2, 1-0 MIAA) has now won ten matches in a row and returns to action Saturday to face Northwest Missouri. First serve is set for 7:00 p.m.
